Today programme fronted by four women for first time

Radio 4's flagship Today programme was presented by a four-strong team of
women for the first time in the show's history

Not stretched: Mishal Husain's debut did not allow her to tackle the most important topicsPhoto: BBC/Jeff Overs

By Claire Carter

10:33AM BST 10 Oct 2013

Mishal Husain, who joined the show this week, and Sarah Montague, fronted Radio 4’s flagship Today on Thursday - the first time in five years that two women presenters led the show - as listeners celebrated the use of more female voices.

The BBC said they thought it was the first time there had been female sports and news readers at the same time as two female presenters on the programme, which has previously been criticised for its male dominated team and guests.

In a sign of the corporation's commitment to it campaign to include more women in its broadcasting team, Thursday’s Today was presented by Husain and Sarah Montague, with Corrie Corfield presenting the news and Alison Mitchell the sport. Simon Jack presented the business section.

The last time two females presented Today was when Carolyn Quinn and Sarah Montague fronted the show together, before Quinn left in 2008. Montague has long been the only main female presenter of the show, since the departure of Quinn and before that Sue MacGregor in 2002 after 18 years on the programme.

Husain’s first appearance on Today on Wednesday was warmly received, many saying they didn’t realise it was her first time on the show.

A mother of three and the BBC’s first Washington-based presenter, she is the first woman from an ethnic minority to be appointed to the Today team.

Men have typically outnumbered women by four to one on the Today team, with presenters James Naughtie, John Humphrys, Evan Davis and Justin Webb presenting alongside Sarah Montague.

In 2011, it was estimated that 84 per cent of reporters and guests on the show were men.

Charlotte Ryall posted on Twitter: “This must be a first; an all women line up on Today, on #radio4. 2 female presenters AND female sports reporter. How long will it last?”

Commenting on the appointment of Husain, Alice Arnold, a former announcer and news reader for the BBC, told the Daily Telegraph: “The Today programme has needed this injection of vitality for some time now.”